Clark Grabs Another Podium, Mendes Takes Fifth in Cortina DH

CORTINA d'AMPEZZO, Italy Jan. 18, 2003 (USSA)--Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME) rebounded Saturday from a couple of frustrating results earlier in the week with the third podium of the season as she finished second in a World Cup downhill, moving into a tie for the World Cup lead, and Jonna Mendes (Heavenly, CA) followed her best SG result with her first top-5 as Renate Goetschl of Austria won her second race in 24 hours.

"I was charging," Clark said. "I knew my skis were going fast right out of the start, so I attacked. I knew I could've done better in those super Gs, so I was firing."

Outdoor Life Network will broadcast a World Cup highlights program today at 3 p.m. EST.

With temperatures in the upper 20s, Goetschl, who broke her left leg and tore knee ligaments last March, collected the 24th win of her career in 1:30.74. Her win followed a victory Friday and second-place finish Wednesday in two super Gs; Clark was 14th in each race.

Clark, a Carrabassett Valley Academy grad, reached her third podium of the season with a time of 1:31.03 while Mendes grabbed the first top-5 of her career in 1:31.42. Clark moved into a tie with Carole Montillet of France atop the World Cup DH points list, each with 245 after four races.

Caroline Lalive (Steamboat Springs, CO) tied for 12th. Libby Ludlow (Bellevue, WA) was 24th with Alison Powers (Winter Park, CO), in her best race of the season since fracturing a kneecap two years ago, tied for 32nd and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) was 35th.

"It was pretty damn good," said Jim Tracy, U.S. women's DH/SG head coach. "Of course we had to wait for everybody to finish, but it was worth the wait...

"I don't know where Ales (Sopotnik, waxing technician) found the five- or six-tenths that were missing, and I don't care...but he did, and Clarky and Jonna - all of 'em - skied really well. I told 'em at the team meeting last night 'Don't leave any doubt who's the best up there' and they responded. It was a real team victory today.

"Clarky was racing full-on—they all were—but she really went for it. She was bumming about those super Gs."

The women run giant slalom Sunday to complete their annual visit to Cortina.